Air-coupling.



R. R.1OLLIFF.

AIR COUPLING. APPLICATION men MAY 2\. m1.

Patented 'Dec. 31, 1918.

\NVENTOR WITNESSES R 5 a MJ/fi" BY ATTORNEY RALPH .R. J OLLIFF, OF MISHAWAKA, INDIANA.

AIR-COUPLING.

Application filed May 21, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH R. JOLLIFF, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mishawaka, in the county of St. Joseph and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and. useful Improvements in Air-Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for coupling together the air pipes of a train of cars, and the principal object of the invention is to provide means for automatically effecting such coupling when the cars come together.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for automatically turning on and shutting off the air by the coupling or uncoupling action.

Another object is to provide means for holding the two parts of the coupling in correct position when the cars are uncoupled, so that said-parts will come together when the cars are coupled.

Another object of the invention is to provide supporting means for the parts of the coupling that will allow the same to have a certain amount of play so as to not be broken by the movement of the cars.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for so securing the coupling to the cars that the same will swing when the car is rounding a curve.

The invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts to be hereinafter fully described and specifically pointed out in the appended claim.

I11 describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure l is a side view showing the two parts of the coupling in uncoupled position,

Fig. 2 is a like view showing the parts in coupled position.

Fig. 3 is a top invention.

Fig. 4 is-a plan view of the coupling parts.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1 on a smaller scale showing connections to the car.

In these drawings as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, 1 indicates the air pipe connected by a connection 14 to the car by a pivot 1, journaled in braces 1 of the car and connected to the main air pipe 2 by a hose connection 2. The transverse bar 3' is a brace plan view of a part of the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 31, 1918. Serial No. 170,039.

secured to the bottom of the car and is arranged above the connection 14. This con nection is an enlargement of the pipe 1 and is provided with a curved passage there through, as shown in Fig. 3, to clear the pivot or pintle 1. The outer end of the pipe 1 is connected to a hose 3, and at this end the pipe is provided with a valve 4, and this valve is provided with a pivot 4 extending through the pipe and with which engages a double lever 5 embracing each side of the pipe. The movement of the levers 5 control the opening and closing of the valve 4 by means of its connection with the pivot 4'.

The lower end of this lever is connected to a coupling head 9 to which is connected the other end of the hose 3. This coupling head is similar to those now in use and is adapted to engage with a corresponding head carried on the other car so that when the cars are coupled, the two heads come to ether and automatically look so as to form a fluid tight connection. Each head carries a pin 10 adapted to engage the V shaped recess in the fork shaped member 11 on the other head, so that the heads are guided into correct position when cars come together. fork of member 11 curves outwardly to facilitate the locking action of the heads. At the upper end of the lever 5, the members thereof are provided with a connecting piece 5'.

I provide means for holding the lever in raised position, such means consisting of the coil spring 12 havingone end connected to the connecting piece 5' and its other end connected to the pipe 1 at 13. Thus it will be seen that said spring tends to hold the lever and the coupling head in raised position.

When the cars are uncoupled, the parts assume the position shown in Fig. 1, as the springs 12 cause the levers to rise and hold up the coupling heads, whereby when the two cars are brought together, the heads will engage each other, and on a further movement of the cars toward each other, the heads will move downwardly against the tension of the springs 12 so as to lock together and at the same time cause the levers to open the valves so as to permit the air pressure to pass from one car to another.

When it is desired to uncouple the cars, or if the coupling should break, as soon as the cars move apart the springs 12 will cause the levers to rise carrying the heads with them so as to prevent and closing the valves and when the coupling heads come to their highest position,

they will part and yet be in proper position so as to couple agaln when the cars come together.

The spring amount of play between the coupling heads the same being broken by the movement of one car in relation to the next. 7 The manner of coupling the pipe 1 to the car by means of the pivot 1 will permit the coupling to swing when the cars strike the curve.

It is thought advantages and tion will be readily comprehended.

I desire-it to be understood that I 'may make slight changes in the construction and in' the arrangement and combination of the from the foregoing that the copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the 12 will permit a certain novel-features of my invenseveral parts, provided such changes fall within the scope of the appended claim.

I claim as my invention: V An air coupling comprising an air pipe, a valve therein, a leverpivoted to the'valve a coupling head carried by the lever, a flexible pipe connecting the head with the pipe, spring means for connecting the upper end of the lever with the pipe for holding the coupling head in coupling position and closing the valve, said means permitting the lever to lower when the coupling heads come together and opening the valve.

- In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses. V

' RALPH R. JOLLIFF.

WVitnesses':

RALPH IVERNTZ AGNES M. KLEIN.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

